Four Indian teams for YES pre-finals in UK

New Delhi, Sep 14 (UNI) Four teams from India have been chosen to represent the country in Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) in UK.

According to a British High Commission statement issued here today, the UK-based competition opened for the first time for Indian students this year. It is an innovative academic business plan competition that raises awareness about the commercialisation of ideas among young bioscientists.

It was launched jointly by the British High Commission, UK Trade and Investment, University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation (UNIEI), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK and the Ministry for Science and Technology and Ocean Development, India.

Inaugurating the session, British Council Director Rod Pryde said, "the UK's future is increasingly staked on successful innovation, and on building ever-stronger links between innovative research and the marketplace. We are delighted to offer young Indian entrepreneurs this opportunity to engage with their UK counterparts." Fourteen teams presented their ideas to an eminent panel comprising senior academicians, venture capitalists, experts from the Department of Biotechnology and an industry representative. Of these, four teams were shortlisted to attend a three-day workshop to be held in Oxford or Edinburgh in September and October and the finals in December in London.

At the workshop, teams will attend sessions by leading British biotechnology experts on all aspects of commercialisation of bioscience ideas.

While interacting with the participating teams Dr M K Bhan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, had the opportunity of interacting with the participating teams and highlighted the value of such a programme.

UNI